Detachable roller means and movable bag or case

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a detachable roller means and a movable bag or case having said detachable roller means, said roller means comprises a roller seat ( 1 ) and a roller assembly, which are detachably connected to each other. The roller seat has a penetration opening ( 1 - 1 ) and a guide in which a spring-pretensioned button plate ( 2 - 10 ) is guided. Said button plate has a button arm ( 2 - 3 ), by means of which the button plate is displaceable along the guide. The roller assembly has a roller holder and a roller ( 3 ). The roller holder is provided on its upper side with a lug boss ( 2 - 5 ) and a shaft ( 2 - 8 ) projecting from the lug boss. The shaft is provided with an upper stop ( 2 - 9 ). In a mounting status, the lug boss is abutted against the bottom of the roller seat tightly and, viewed in the insertion direction of the shaft, the button plate is engaged behind the upper stop in a spring-pretensioned manner. The button plate can be brought out of engagement with the upper stop in opposite to the spring pretension. The roller means according to the present invention is not only permanently firm, but also can be mounted and detached easily.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a detachable roller means and a movablebag or case having said detachable roller means.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Nowadays the life is increasingly rich and various. A bag or case, inparticular a movable bag or case having universal corner rollers, isusually necessary at work, in sports, in recreation or the like.However, when the work or travel is finished, the bag shall be packed ina proper way, but the bag with rollers is hardly to be fixed. When auser goes outdoors for sports, for instance, going fitness, golf,swimming or the like, which does not require too much things, and theuser doesn't want to carry a bag by hand, the user can take a bag withrollers for an easy trip. Now there are bags or cases with universalcorner rollers that are fixed on the bag body or case body. No matterhow many degrees the rollers rotate, they are not detachable. Such bagsor cases have bad adaptability during the application. Besides, rollersare worn out most quickly among all of the components of a bag or case.When the other parts of the bag or case are still in normal state, butthe worn rollers are out of use, it would be impossible that the userreplaces the worn rollers with new ones by himself, since the rollerscannot be detached.

Moreover, a detachable roller means in a snap-fit manner is known in theprior art, wherein the snap-fit arrangement should be designed extremelyfirm, for preventing the rollers from falling off unintentionally underan external load. It usually requires tools or a great effort to loosethe snap-fit arrangement. And the firmness of the snap-fit arrangementis reduced with the times of the actuation to the snap-fit arrangement.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention is based on the object of providing a detachableroller means and a movable bag or case having said detachable rollermeans, wherein the detachable roller means can not only permanentlyprevent a roller from an unintentional falling off, but also allow aneasy montage and detachment.

This object is reached according to the invention by a detachableroller, which comprises a roller seat and a roller assembly, the rollerassembly and the roller seat being connected to each other detachably,wherein the roller seat has a penetration opening, a guide on the upperside of the roller seat being transverse to the penetration opening, inparticular perpendicular to the penetration opening, aspring-pretensioned button plate being guided in the guide, said buttonplate having a button arm which extends through a button through hole inthe roller seat and can be actuated from outside, wherein by theactuation of the button arm the button plate is displaceable along theguide, wherein the roller assembly has a roller holder and a rollermounted thereon rotatably about a roller axis, a lug boss and a shaftprojecting from said lug boss for inserting into the penetration openingbeing arranged on the upper side of the roller holder, an upper stopbeing arranged on the shaft, wherein in a mounting status, the lug bossof the roller assembly is abutted against the bottom of the roller seatand, viewed in the insertion direction of the shaft, the button plate isengaged behind the upper stop of the roller assembly in aspring-pretensioned manner, and the button plate can be brought out ofengagement with the upper stop in opposite to the spring pretension.

For the detachable roller means according to the invention, the rollerassembly can be mounted easily as below: the button arm is moved awaylaterally by one hand and then the roller assembly is inserted inposition by the other hand, and then the button arm is released. In themounting status, a permanent and firm connection between the rollerassembly and the roller seat is accomplished by means of an interactionbetween the button plate pretensioned by the spring and the upper stop,as well as by means of an abutment of the lug boss against the bottom ofthe roller seat, in order to prevent the rolling assembly from fallingoff unintentionally. In case it is necessary to detach the rollerassembly, it only needs to push the button plate away laterally by onehand so as to get the roller assembly off by the other hand without anytrouble. The roller assembly is also easily to be exchanged in the eventof the wear of the roller.

In a preferable embodiment, said detachable roller means is configuredas a detachable universal roller means, that is to say, the rollerholder is freely rotatable about a longitudinal axis. The universalperformance of the roller means denotes the free rotation of the rollerholder about the longitudinal axis. It can be carried out in variousmanners, and is well-known in the prior art. For example, the rollerholder is freely rotatable about a longitudinal axis defined by saidshaft, in particular an axis substantially perpendicular to the rolleraxis. In a favorable structure, the lug boss is connected to the shaftin an anti-rotary manner, and the roller holder is rotatable about theshaft. In an alternative structure, the roller holder is connected tothe shaft in an anti-rotary manner, while the shaft is freely rotatablein the penetration opening. Besides, a limited rotation or non-rotationof the roller holder about the longitudinal axis is also considerable.

In a preferable embodiment, viewed in the insertion direction of theshaft, the shaft has an intermediate stop behind the upper stop, and thedistance between the upper stop and the intermediate stop is equal tothe thickness of the button plate. Therefore, the button plate isengaged into the space between the upper stop and the intermediate stopin the mounting status, and contacts the top and intermediate stopsimultaneously, and thus it is advantageous for holding the shaftaxially in a particularly firm manner.

In a preferable embodiment, the shaft is provided with a circumferentialgroove, the upper and lower walls thereof respectively constitute theupper stop and the intermediate stop, and the button plate has anarcuate recess corresponding to the shape of the groove.

In a preferable embodiment, the roller seat has a depression on itslower side, and the lug boss of the roller assembly has a complementaryshape to the depression, and the depression and the lug boss are abuttedagainst each other in the mounting status.

In a preferable embodiment, the lug boss of the roller assembly and thedepression of the roller seat have a planar abutment surface and anon-circular cross section respectively. According to this embodimentnot only the shaft is axially positioned in a particularly reliablemariner, but also the lug boss is held in an anti-rotary manner, andthus a small structure size is realized.

In a preferable embodiment, the spring is arranged in the direction ofthe guide, wherein one end of the spring is fixed to the button plate,in particular to a protrusion on the button plate, and the other end ofthe spring is fixed to a spring fixing means, which is arranged in theroller seat and is preferably configured as a protrusion or a dent.

In a preferable embodiment, a button external part is arranged in thebutton through hole, and said button external part is connected to thebutton arm or integrated with the same. By actuating the button externalpart, the button plate is displaceable along the guide. The button platecan be actuated friendly by means of the button external part.

In a preferable embodiment, a detachable, in particular in athread-connection manner detachable, shell cover is provided on theupper side of the roller seat, for covering the parts in the rollerseat. The detachable shell cover is beneficial to the servicing of theparts in the roller seat, in particular the spring therein. For example,when the spring is out of service or some foreign matter enters into theroller seat, the exchange of the spring or removal of the foreign mattercan be implemented by opening the shell cover, so as to prevent theroller seat from the malfunction and therefore prevent the entire rollermeans from the malfunction.

In a preferable embodiment, the roller seat is connected detachably tothe bag or case, in particular in a threaded connection manner.

The object of the present invention is also reached by a movable bag orcase, which has a detachable roller means according to the invention,wherein the roller seat is mounted on the bag or case, in particular ina threaded connection with the bag or case.

In a preferable embodiment, at each of the two sides on the bottom ofthe bag or the case a detachable roller means is provided respectively.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION TO THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic respective of a detachable roller meansaccording to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic respective of a roller seat of the detachableroller means according to the invention;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic respective of a roller assembly of thedetachable roller means according to the invention;

FIG. 4 shows a schematic respective of parts of the detachable rollermeans according to the invention in a partially exploded view; and

FIG. 5 shows a schematic respective of a movable bag or case accordingto the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION TO THE DRAWINGS

An embodiment of the invention will be explained in detail below withreference to the appended drawings, in which the roller means of theinvention is configured as a detachable universal corner roller means,and at two corners of the case body a roller means, as a corner rollermeans in the present embodiment, is arranged respectively. It is alsoconsiderable that the detachable roller means according to the inventionis also arranged at any other position of the case body.

As shown in the figures, said detachable universal corner roller meanssubstantially includes a roller seat 1 (hereby a corner roller seat),which is connected and fixed to the case body via screws 1-5. Saidcorner roller seat 1 is provided with a roller 3 on its lower side andis connected to the roller 3 through a connection means 2. Said cornerroller seat 1 is provided with a shell cover 1-6 on its upper side,wherein the shell cover 1-6 is configured to be arcuate for facilitatingthe movement of an internal spring 2-2, and the shell cover 1-6 is fixedto the corner roller seat 1 by means of screws 1-7 and screw bores 1-8.A penetration opening 1-1 is arranged in the corner roller seat, and abutton through hole 1-3 is arranged on the lateral side of the cornerroller seat 1, and a button external part 1-4 is provided in the buttonthrough hole 1-3. The connection means 2 is provided with a lug boss2-5, with a rotational head means 2-6 in the interior, which extendsthrough the penetration opening 1-1 and the lug boss 2-5, as well aswith a shaft 2-8 in the rotational head means 2-6. Said shaft 2-8 isprovided with an upper stop 2-9 and an intermediate stop 2-7, and with adisc 2-4 on its bottom, wherein the shaft 2-8 connects the rotationalhead means 2-6 with the roller 3. The intermediate stop 2-7 ispositioned above the lug boss 2-5. The button plate 2-10 is movablyarranged in a guide that is transverse to the penetration opening 1-1 inthe corner roller seat 1, wherein said guide is particularly configuredas a linear guide. The button plate 2-10 is located between the upperstop 2-9 and the intermediate stop 2-7 along the vertical direction. Thebutton plate 2-10 is provided with an arcuate recess 2-1, which can beengaged with the rotational head means 2-6. The spring 2-2 is connectedto the button plate 2-10, wherein with one end the spring 2-2 is fixedto the button plate 2-10, and with the other end it is fixed to a springfixing means 1-2 in the corner roller seat 1. The button plate 2-10 isprovided with a button arm 2-3 that is connected to the button externalpart 1-4, wherein the design of the button external part 1-4 facilitatesthe actuation.

The roller means of the invention is substantially made of plastics,while the button plate 2-10, the button external part 1-4 and the shaftare preferably made of stainless steel, or metal coated with ananticorrosive layer, or any other corrosion-resistant metal.

The shaft 2-8 and the penetration opening 1-1 can have an arbitrary butappropriate cross-section, e.g. a circular or quadrate cross-section.Preferably, the profile of the shaft 2-8 and that of the penetrationopening 1-1 are configured to be fitted to each other, thereby theradial orientation of the shaft 2-8 in the penetration opening also canbe realized by the fit of the both. The anti-rotational fixing of theshaft in the penetration opening can also be realized by thenon-circular cross-section of the shaft 2-8 and of the penetrationopening 1-1.

As shown in FIG. 5, the detachable corner roller means in the inventionis used for a movable bag or a movable case, wherein a corner rollerseat 1 as mentioned above is provided respectively at each of the twosides of the bottom of the case body 4.

When the roller assembly (the corner roller assembly in the embodimentshown in the figures) should be detached from the case body, the buttonexternal part 1-4 is pushed away by one hand laterally. Since the buttonexternal part 1-4 is connected to the button arm 2-3, the spring 2-2connected to the button plate 2-10 is compressed, thus the arcuaterecess 2-1 in the button plate 2-10 is disengaged with the rotationalhead means 2-6, and meanwhile the roller 3 is pulled out by the otherhand, whereby the roller assembly is detached from the bag or casewithout a great effort. When the roller assembly should be mountedthereon, the button external part 1-4 is pushed away laterally by onehand, and meanwhile the roller assembly is inserted into the penetrationopening 1-1 of the corner roller seat by the other hand. When the rollerassembly is located in position, the button external part 1-4 isreleased, and the roller assembly is now mounted on the corner rollerseat 1.

The detachable structure facilitates an arbitrary montage or detachmentof the roller assembly in the usage. When a roller is worn out, theroller assembly with this roller is detached and replaced by a new onefavorably, without hindering the usage of other parts in the case body.

In addition to the aforesaid exemplar embodiment, equivalents orvariants having a comparable effect all fall into the scope sought forprotection by the invention. For example, different from the embodimentas illustrated in the figures, in which the button plate 2-10, the shellcover 1-6 etc. are arranged on the upper side of the roller seat 1, inanother embodiment they can also be arranged on the lower side of theroller seat 1. In this situation, the roller seat is closed on its upperside, and is provided with a guide and a button plate 2-10 on its lowerside, and the shell cover 1-6 downwardly substantially covers the rollerseat 1, and the shell cover 1-6 correspondingly has a penetrationopening 1-1, and is directly abutted against the lug boss 2-5 in amounting status, and for example, the bottom of the shell cover 1-6 isalso provided with a depression fitted to the profile of the lug boss2-5. Besides, it also pertains to an equivalent arrangement that theguide is not arranged in the basis of the roller seat but in the shellcover.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   1 corner roller seat-   1-1 penetration opening-   1-2 spring fixing means-   1-3 button through hole-   1-4 button external part-   1-5 screw-   1-6 shell cover-   1-7 screw-   1-8 screw bore-   2 connection means-   2-1 arcuate recess-   2-2 spring-   2-3 button arm-   2-4 disc-   2-5 lug boss-   2-6 rotational head means-   2-7 intermediate stop-   2-8 shaft-   2-9 upper stop-   2-10 button plate-   3 roller-   4 case body

1. Detachable roller means, comprising a roller seat (1) and a rollerassembly, characterized in that the roller assembly and the roller seat(1) are connected to each other detachably, wherein the roller seat (1)has a penetration opening (1-1), a guide transverse in particularperpendicular to the penetration opening being arranged on the upperside of the roller seat (1), a spring-pretensioned button plate (2-10)being guided in the guide and having a button arm (2-3) which extendsthrough a button through hole (1-3) in the roller seat and can beactuated from outside, the button plate (2-10) being displaceable alongthe guide by actuating the button arm (2-3), wherein the roller assemblyhas a roller holder and a roller (3) which is mounted in the rollerholder rotatably about a roller axis, said roller holder being providedwith a lug boss (2-5) on its upper side and a shaft (2-8) which projectsfrom the lug boss (2-5) and serves to insert into the penetrationopening (1-1), an upper stop (2-9) being arranged on the shaft, andwherein in a mounting status, the lug boss (2-5) of the roller assemblyis abutted against the bottom of the roller seat (1) and, viewed in theinsertion direction of the shaft, the button plate (2-10) is engagedbehind the upper stop (2-9) of the roller assembly in aspring-pretensioned manner, and the button plate (2-10) can be broughtout of engagement with the upper stop (2-9) in opposite to the springpretension.
 2. Detachable roller means according to claim 1,characterized in that said detachable roller means is configured as auniversal roller means, wherein the roller holder is freely rotatableabout a longitudinal axis.
 3. Detachable roller means according to claim2, characterized in that said shaft (2-8) has an intermediate stop (2-7)that is, viewed in the insertion direction of the shaft, located behindthe upper stop (2-9), wherein the distance between the upper top (2-9)and the intermediate stop (2-7) is equal to the thickness of the buttonplate (2-10).
 4. Detachable roller means according to claim 3,characterized in that a circumferential groove is provided in the shaft(2-8), wherein the upper and lower walls of the groove are configured asthe upper stop (2-9) and the intermediate stop (2-7) respectively, andthe button plate (2-10) has an arcuate recess (2-1), the shape of whichis fitted to the shape of the groove.
 5. Detachable roller meansaccording to claim 1, characterized in that said roller seat (1) has adepression on its lower side, and the lug boss (2-5) of the rollerassembly has a shape complementary to that of the depression, whereinthe lug boss and the depression are abutted against each other in themounting status.
 6. Detachable roller means according to claim 5,characterized in that the lug boss (2-5) of the roller assembly and thedepression of the roller seat (1) have a planar abutment surfacerespectively, and have a non-circular cross section respectively. 7.Detachable roller means according to claim 1, characterized in that thespring (2-2) is arranged in the direction of the guide, wherein one endof the spring is fixed to the button plate (2-10), in particular to aprotrusion of the button plate (2-10), and the other end of the springis fixed to a spring fixing means (1-2) which is located in the rollerseat (1) and is preferably configured as a protrusion or a dent. 8.Detachable roller means according to claim 1, characterized in that abutton external part (1-4) is arranged in the button through hole (1-3),wherein the button external part (1-4) and the button arm (2-3) areconnected to each other or configured as one piece, wherein the buttonplate (2-10) is displaceable along the guide by actuating the buttonexternal part (1-4).
 9. Detachable roller means according to claim 1,characterized in that the roller seat (1) is provided on its upper sidewith a detachable, particularly in a threaded-connection mannerdetachable, shell cover (1-6) for covering the parts in the roller seat.10. Detachable roller means according to claim 1 characterized in thatthe roller seat (1) is connected to a bag or a case detachably, inparticular in a threaded connection manner.
 11. Movable bag or movablecase, characterized in that said movable bag or case comprises adetachable roller means according to claim 1, wherein the roller seat(1) is mounted on the bag or case, in particular in athreaded-connection manner.
 12. Movable bag or movable case according toclaim 11, characterized in that each of the two sides of the bottom ofthe bag or case is provided with one detachable roller means. 13.Detachable roller means according to claim 2, characterized in that saidroller seat (1) has a depression on its lower side, and the lug boss(2-5) of the roller assembly has a shape complementary to that of thedepression, wherein the lug boss and the depression are abutted againsteach other in the mounting status.
 14. Detachable roller means accordingto claim 3, characterized in that said roller seat (1) has a depressionon its lower side, and the lug boss (2-5) of the roller assembly has ashape complementary to that of the depression, wherein the lug boss andthe depression are abutted against each other in the mounting status.15. Detachable roller means according to claim 4, characterized in thatsaid roller seat (1) has a depression on its lower side, and the lugboss (2-5) of the roller assembly has a shape complementary to that ofthe depression, wherein the lug boss and the depression are abuttedagainst each other in the mounting status.
 16. Detachable roller meansaccording to claim 2, characterized in that the spring (2-2) is arrangedin the direction of the guide, wherein one end of the spring is fixed tothe button plate (2-10), in particular to a protrusion of the buttonplate (2-10), and the other end of the spring is fixed to a springfixing means (1-2) which is located in the roller seat (1) and ispreferably configured as a protrusion or a dent.
 17. Detachable rollermeans according to claim 3, characterized in that the spring (2-2) isarranged in the direction of the guide, wherein one end of the spring isfixed to the button plate (2-10), in particular to a protrusion of thebutton plate (2-10), and the other end of the spring is fixed to aspring fixing means (1-2) which is located in the roller seat (1) and ispreferably configured as a protrusion or a dent.
 18. Detachable rollermeans according to claim 4, characterized in that the spring (2-2) isarranged in the direction of the guide, wherein one end of the spring isfixed to the button plate (2-10), in particular to a protrusion of thebutton plate (2-10), and the other end of the spring is fixed to aspring fixing means (1-2) which is located in the roller seat (1) and ispreferably configured as a protrusion or a dent.
 19. Detachable rollermeans according to claim 5, characterized in that the spring (2-2) isarranged in the direction of the guide, wherein one end of the spring isfixed to the button plate (2-10), in particular to a protrusion of thebutton plate (2-10), and the other end of the spring is fixed to aspring fixing means (1-2) which is located in the roller seat (1) and ispreferably configured as a protrusion or a dent.
 20. Detachable rollermeans according to claim 6, characterized in that the spring (2-2) isarranged in the direction of the guide, wherein one end of the spring isfixed to the button plate (2-10), in particular to a protrusion of thebutton plate (2-10), and the other end of the spring is fixed to aspring fixing means (1-2) which is located in the roller seat (1) and ispreferably configured as a protrusion or a dent.